Tool for applying and removing laundry markers



Uct. 13,1925. 1,557,370

E. LANE TOOL FOR APPLYING AND REMOVING LAUNDRY MARKERS Filed Dec. 19. 1923 Zdwkz lame "cana Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN LANE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CAROLYN LAUNDRY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TOOL FOR APPLYING AND REMOVING LAUNDRY MARKERS.

Application filed December 19, 1923. Serial No. 681,641.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tools for Applying and Removing Laundry Markers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool or implement for applying markers to or removing them from articles or pieces to be laundered, dry cleaned or dyed or relatively to means for holding the markers, and the primary object of the same is to provide a device that is structurally convenient and may be readily adjusted in part and also manipulated to adapt the same to effectively and expeditiously perform the several functions for which it has been devised, and also to accommodate the operator whom may use either the right or left hand or prefer the engaging elements of the tool or implement to be disposed at a particular angle.

With this and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts to be more fully hereinafter described in preferred form.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool or implement embodying the features of the invention and showing the same in position to engage a marking device illustrated in advance thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the. tool or implement.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the tool partially broken away and in section to illustrate a stop pin structure.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views in side elevation of portions of the operating arms and nibs of the tool to illustrate the manner of applying the same to and operating a particular form of marker, v

The numeral 5 represents the jaws of the improved tool or implement which are continuous withrearwardly extending handles 6 and connected by a fulcrum pin or analogous device 7 in a manner similar to pliers or pincers. The forward ends of the jaws 5 are formed with slots 8 in which the angular extremities 9 of arms 10 are mounted and held by set screws or analogous fastenings 11, the arms 10 being terminally beveled or inwardly deflected and reduced as at 12 to provide horizontal nibs 13. The set screws or analogous fastenings 11 perform the same function with relations to the arms 10 as usual fastening devices of this character. These set screws or fastenings 11 bind the slotted portions of the jaws 5 into tight engagement with the arms 10 when the said screws or fastenings are tightened, Between the fulcrum pin 7 and the points of attachment of the arms 10 to the jaws 5 the latter have a stop or movement-limiting pin 14 engaging the same, the one jaw having a smo0thed-wall opening 15 therein through which the shank of the pin is freely movable, and the other jaw having a screwthreaded opening 16 engaged by a threaded and nutted extremity 17 of the pin. Between the handles 6 in rear of the pivot pin 7 and close to said pin, a stiff spring 18 is mounted and engages the said handles, as shown, the said spring having the tendency to force the jaws open against the resistance of the pin 14. The spring 18 is preferably a stiff one and is adapted to force the jaws 5 and arms 10 with their nibs 13 apart after the handles have been moved toward one another to cause the jaw, arm and nib of one jaw to approach those of the other jaw for a purpose which will be presently explained. The arms 10 also have their inner opposing sides slightly concaved or cut away, as at 19, to prevent contact of the arms with the device with which they are intended to operate.

The improved tool or implement, as hereinbefore indicated, has been particularly constructed for engagement with a marker,

such as is used in marking laundry articles or articles to be dry cleaned or dyed, and these markers, as illustrated in the drawing, are provided with opposite holding jaws 20 and 21 which are normally closed and extend from a central bend 22 with an open space 23 between the greater length of the jaws. Each of the jaws 20 and 21 of the marker has an opening 24 extending longitudinally thereof and terminating near its forward end under a socket 25. The improved tool has the arms 10 and nibs 13 in such spaced relation as to permit such parts to be readily applied overthe bend 22 and the jaws 20 and 21 of the marker without touching the latter as shown in Fig. 4, and when the nibs 13 are in alinement with the openings 24 in rear of the sockets 25 the handles 6 of the tool are moved toward one another against the resistance of the spring 18 until the nibs 13 are spread far enough apart to be readily pushed forwardly into the sockets 25, as shown in Fig. 5. When the nibs are thus assembled with the sockets the handles 6 are released and the spring 18 moves the handles apart and causes the arms 10 and nibs 13 to separate to their maximum extent or normal distance. This causes the opening of the jaws 20 and 21 of the marker, and in this condition the marker may be either applied to or removed from an article or piece without affecting the resiliency oi the jaws of the marker or crushing the bend 22.

Since the spring 1b is compressed when the handles of the tool are moved toward one another in order that the nibs 13 may enter the sockets 25 of the marker, when the handles are released the spring 18 will move the handles apart and thus cause the arms 10 and nibs 13 to move apart to spread the jaws 20 and 21 of the marker or device with which the nibs may be placed in engagement. The hand of the operator is thus relieved of the strain and tiresome effort which would otherwise be necessary to spread the spring jaws 20 and 21 of a mark er or similar device apart. The improved tool is adapted specially for use with markers and greatly facilitates the application and removal of such markers to and from articles to be cleaned or dyed. The'tool can be very readily manipulated, and in a short time one may become exceptionally expert in quickly operating it, the arms 10 and nibs l3 always responding to the opening action of the spring.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A tool of the class specified, comprising pivoted handles having jaws provided with adjustable arms terminating in spaced nibs with the outer sides thereof constructed as the engaging portions thereof, the arms being disposed at an angle to the jaws,

2. A tool of the class specified, comprising pivoted handles having jaws, spring means normally tending to spread the said handles and jaws apart, and arms adjustably carried by the jaws and terminating in reduced nibs, the arms with the nibs being disposed at angles with relation to the aws and the arm and nib of one jaw being movable towards those of the other jaw when said handles are moved towards one another. 1

3. A tool of the class specified, comprising handles having jaws normally held in open relation at a fixed distance and provided with adjustable arms terminating in nibs, the arms and nibs being disposed at an angle to the jaws, and spring means engaging the handles to resist the closing of the jaws, arms and nibs and automatically exert an expanding pressure on the arms and nibs when the handles and jaws are relieved from pressure.

4. A tool for opening marking devices for launder comprising handles and normally open aws having a pivotal connection with relation to the handles, the jaws terminating in reduced nibs with outer bearing sides, spring means between the handles to normally hold the jaws and nibs in open position, the nibs being adapted to engage inner opposing parts of the marker and positively held intact with the latter by the said spring means, the said nibs and jaws being closed by a movement of the handles toward one another and the reduced nibs being held at an angle to the jaws.

5. A tool for opening marking devices for launder comprising normally open jaws having a. pivotal connection and handles, the said jaws also having arms adjustably connected and held at uniform angles in relation thereto, the arms being provided with reduced terminal nibs at their free ends having the outer sides thereof constructed to engage and bear against opposing portions of a launder marking device, and spring means interposed between the handles and normally holding the jaws, arms and nibs in separated relation, the said jaws, arms and nibs being closed by pressing the handles together against the resistance of the said spring means, the release of the handles by the action of the spring means relieving the operator of manual strain incident to opening the launder marking device engaged by the nibs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWIN LANE. 

